Supreme Court ends Kudirat Abiola murder case against Al Mustapha
The Supreme Court has dismissed the case seeking to revive the murder trial of Major Hamza Al Mustapha over the killing of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election. The apex court held that Lagos State had abandoned the matter after failing to take any steps since 2014. Kudirat Abiola was assassinated in Lagos on June 4, 1996, during nationwide protests against the annulment of her husband MKO Abiola’s election victory. Al Mustapha, then Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, was charged alongside Mohammed Abacha and Lateef Shofolahan on counts of conspiracy and murder. In January 2012, a Lagos High Court convicted the defendants and sentenced them to death by hanging. However, the Court of Appeal in July 2013 overturned the judgment, discharged and acquitted them, ruling that the […]